At last, California has an official state dinosaur

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California adopted an official state dinosaur: the Augustynolophus morrisi,
whose fossilized remains have been found only in California. Scientists
believe it lived at least 66 million years ago. (Photo courtesy of
Assemblyman Richard Bloom)

SACRAMENTO — At long last, California has an official state dinosaur: Augustynolophus morrisi, whose fossilized remains have been found only in California.

To the delight of science-lovers everywhere, Gov. Jerry Brown over the weekend signed into law a bill adding the extinct, duck-billed creature to the growing list of state insignia that includes the golden poppy, the California grizzly and — most recently — denim as the state’s fabric.

The dinosaur may have lived 66 million years ago, but it has a Los Angeles-based Twitter account, which celebrated with the tweet “Dreams really do come true!”

In 1939, the Augustynolophus morrisi’s remains — including skull material — were found in the Moreno Formation of Fresno County. The dinosaur was named after geologist and paleontologist William J. Morris, who discovered many dinosaur remains along North America’s western coast, and Gretchen Augustyn, a longtime Natural History Museum supporter.

Scientists believed it roamed the Earth at the same time as the better-known Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops. Little is known about the dinosaur other than that, like other duck-billed species, it was a plant eater.

“Today is a great day for California and for paleontology” said Assemblyman Richard Bloom, D-Santa Monica, who carried the dinosaur bill. “It’s not often that legislation gives us an opportunity to learn about California’s prehistoric past; over the past several months Augustynolophus morrisi has inspired and educated Californians across the state, including its students, policymakers, and journalists.”

A specimen of the Augustynolophus morrisi is on display in the Dinosaur Hall at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Katy Murphy is based in Sacramento and covers state government for The Mercury News and East Bay Times, a beat she took on in January 2017. Before that, she was the news organization's higher education reporter, writing about UC, CSU, community colleges and private colleges. Long ago, she covered Oakland schools and other K-12 education issues.

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